The Kaufman Hell - I'm Thinking of Ending Things

[@_elevenofspades]

The 5 stages of watching “I’m Thinking of Ending Things”: confusion ("what is happening?"), fear ("seriously, please, tell me what's happening!"), exasperation ("take her home, man, just take her home!!"), realization ("oh!"), and depression ("... oh...") 🌨

[@MmmKayHuuNay]

...yep. Then you watch vids like this to understand wth was it exactly you just watched and for solidarity.

[@delaneystorm]

You’ve summed it up so perfectly lolol

[@tahunuva4254]

Funny how we're exasperated that Jake won't let the girl go home, yet _we_ won't let Jake kill himself until the story's end.

[@jihandwisundari1287]

This is literally what I've been through

[@eastavenues]

more like confusion confusion confusion confusion ..wtf?

[@markpostgate2551]

8:56 I love the fact that not a bite of food has been eaten during the entire meal; every plate cleared from the table is just as full as it was at the beginning of the scene.

[@larae6885]

Why is this an important detail to you?

[@markpostgate2551]

@@larae6885 It is a subtle indication that what is happening isn't real; it's a performance of normaility. It reminds me of Luis Bunuel films.

[@Smokeyourselfstraighttohell]

It shows the limitation of his imagination insofar as only pertaining to the important details, that being the characters themselves

[@rileyelizabeth7942]

When I first discovered this movie, it was midnight and I just wanted something to watch to distract myself, and I remember thinking that, as the movie went on, it would continue forever. Like the movie had always been going on, and would continue to go on. It was absolutely horrific, and I loved and hated every minute of it.

[@yuurichito1439]

Holy crap I just had a similar experience....

[@biblbhkbgv-nz9ml]

it jus kept going and going and going and we were stuck in those claustrophic scenes.

[@jacqj153]

I hated this movie simply because it put me in a dissociative and derealized state that absolutely destroyed my whole winter. It felt like a regular day in my brain on screen, and I applaud Kaufman for doing so well with showing what the brain’s imagination would look like. I’m never going to watch the movie again, but I will give it complete and total props to the movie and everyone who worked on it for getting such a visceral response from the audience. The attention to detail was absolutely astounding.

[@TheCosmicFailure]

Its been almost 2 yrs and this movie still lives in my brain rent free like every day.

[@saadbunni]

You absolutely cannot blame a film for a monthS long depression /derealized disassociated state. In reality you were most likely on the verge when you chose to put this film on. I hope ur ok man.

[@ij4006]

This film 100% contributed to my nervous breakdown. Granted I wasn’t in a great state to begin with, but watching this mentally broke me. I will never watch it again.

[@GiftFromGod]

+2 years and +1 survived attempt into my depression now and has have the title on my brain for a while, again, now this popped up in my feed and i remembered the movie i had not seen yet. now that i have just watched it i'm more empty than ever. eeriely close to the thoughts, feelings and realisation i once had on psychadelics. only this time i'm not so keen on telling myself i'm staying. how ever i'm not leaving either. feel like a delicant old mansion once full of care, love, life but is now a dusty dark shackel with nothing but ghosts and memories as tresspassers. guests imply they're wanted. will i get demolished to the ground or is there a spirit capable of wonders who see the potential and worth on saving this?

[@iamV10010]

@@GiftFromGod you could easily have a career in creative writing. Maybe that could be worth sticking around for? That kind of art touches so many people and speaks so many languages to our souls. Go ahead...write something beautiful. Hope you're doing better, friend.

[@superkitten7560]

I haven't seen the movie but I did read the book. The slow unraveling near the end really gets to you. I appreciate this analysis!

[@ImrdIstt.SH.]

Three straight pages of "What are you waiting for?" got me really good

[@superkitten7560]

@@ImrdIstt.SH. I'm guessing they didn't want to really show the ending that's in the book which is why it seems to be an innocent "Goodbye" in the movie lol

[@ThomasPaceFilms]

the movie is so worth your time in my opinion

[@annieliina]

@@superkitten7560 the books endind wouldn't really fit the movie as it doesn't really leave anything to the imagination, i still liked the book better tho

[@rafaelalejandrobonillaabad9071]

The book is great, the movie is crap.

[@diegeticfridge9167]

I love the “how can you have a sad image without someone looking sad in the picture?” Contrasted with the final frame of the snow covered truck alone in the school parking lot in the morning. It’s the saddest frame of the film. Without a person in sight.

[@mrinaalbanerjee]

Fuck, I didn't notice. That just feels.......

[@squamish4244]

You do hear the sound of snowplows.

[@HaruHikaHaruHika]

But isn’t it sad because we know there’s a person there inside the car? Who has lead a sad life and has passed away alone?

[@diegeticfridge9167]

@@HaruHikaHaruHika yes, the context gives the image the sad feeling. That’s the message. You can’t have a sad image without someone being sad in the image unless we know the context of the image. (Ie, we can never know someone’s true struggle till we see their life story)

[@LongdogBookReviews]

Beautiful film. Plenty of shots that display loneliness and discontent, which makes the conversation that "Lucy" has with Jake's parents all the more meaningful.

[@gimmeyourankles]

I remeber when i watched a video about this movie and how it feeds the idea of "my life could be like this" on this movie, and how it made me enter a deep existential dread. I am a very lonely person and always get myself thinking about the past and how things could've been if i wasn't myself (personality wise), and i ofter daydream about a better reality of things. It makes me feel better thru the day, but in the end of the day, i am just as lonely as i started. This year has been the most lonely i've ever felt, and sometimes i still remember this movie. I haven't watched the movie and i think i don't will cause i already have a bucket of things to digest and think, but thanks for making this video and the explaination. edit: i just came back to this video after i watched it a while ago and want to say thanks to all the nice comments and even to the ones who told me to get a grip lol. my life is not the best, but is a good one. and yes, the movie left me in shambles and feeling just as bad as i started it, but i survived!

[@annieliina]

it's really great that you recognize that this movie could be harmful and decide to not watch it, i hope you feel better soon

[@r0n718]

You’ll be ok. Can’t change the past, try to embrace the present and look forward to the future. That’s all u can do. I think we all have regrets. Just try to stay positive and get thru it. The last two years have been lonely for a lot of people. It still is. This world is currently in a fkd up place. You seem like a nice person. I hope you find happiness. 😉

[@icefox9875]

❤️

[@joshuaiowa2190]

❤️

[@jamesmiller1209]

I'm reminded of a quote I heard which stated that it was no measure of mental health to be well adjusted to a sick society. Also, if knowledge of what is truly important is the goal of life rather than a false sense of happiness then we learn most through that which we suffer. Your life and the pain you have experienced has real meaning even though you may not fully understand how that could possibly be right now, I'm certain of it.

[@_NaLo_]

10:10 I more took the changing clothes and details to mean that this is a daydream/fantasy that the main character has come back to and replayed in his head many many times over the years, with details changing as he gets older.

[@canonicallykayfabe]

Same. To me, it was always like, when you replay a daydream just to try play things out differently

[@marioooboi5176]

One detail Can confirm that : at the highschool, the trashcan is full with ice-cream, as he repeated this scénario over and over in his head

[@jazzensemble]

This film feels exactly like having a psychotic episode. I've had psychotic episodes before and I was genuinely concerned I may be having one again while watching this.

[@yainaya_]

I couldn't finish watching this movie or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind because of this.

[@saadbunni]

So, if I've had them before. Should I chose not to watch this film in genuine concern that it could trigger something in me

[@squamish4244]

@@saadbunni Yes.

[@sapphic.flower]

Idk if I'm just over-thinking it or it's just poor wording but I wouldn't refer to the ending as "acceptance" or "Jake's destiny" since the subject is never something people should think is meant to happen to themselves or others. I saw the movie as exploring factors that contribute to those kind of thoughts. How we glamourize romantic relationships and success that when we don't have it, we see it as a reflection of our self-worth. There's also the fact Jake is made fun of by the high school students and seems to have difficult feelings towards his parents. Societal expectations, standards, harassment, a difficult childhood and loneliness (not just romantically) are all damaging components to a person's mental well being. Rather than just relating to the protagonist in a self-pitying way, we should view it as a deconstruction of the ways depression and suicide is perpetuated in our society and environment.

[@missymartinez9923]

I very much agree. I saw this as more of a cautionary tale than acceptance. Anyone would be afraid of that ending but some people go through it. It hit me horribly because watching my parents JUST like he did, fear of utter loneliness, regrets, constantly daydreaming of what you COULD be instead of looking into what you are, have and can be was very terrifying but isn't guaranteed. It can still be changed, there's still a chance. This movie is a very sad cautionary tale.

[@MaRyaYTOfficial]

I really really agree with this, especially when it seems to me jake wants to so badly look back on things with positivity/ just being normal but it just wasn’t and that penetrates his idealized world. Almost haunts him maybe, just wishing things were different

[@eliotsausage]

I wholeheartedly agree. One could maybe argue, however, that the ending does depict an acceptance of sorts. The imaginary musical number that Jake performs has a somewhat twisted irony to it. It is almost as if he’s mocking himself for the realization that his young selves fantasy of future greatness never happened, never will, and that his dreams ultimately served no purpose. This is of course a very unfortunate train of thought, but nevertheless a train of thought that seems to me have lived in his mind as he passed. He gave up on hope, and the brutal arguments this movie (Jake’s mind) has in favor of that is what really scared me. Still, tho, I think the movie ends up making the point that this mentality can and should be avoided at all costs, that the life points he’s desperate to score do not define one’s worth

[@pepperpattynaise]

The really scary thing is...well...what does then? What defines self worth? Is there any universal, inherent thing? Because if there isnt and if we actually set those standards for ourselves, he actually had no self worth according to his own standards, and thats the worst part. You wanted to be someone of worth, and you never achieved that, so whats left?

[@idkman2633]

Thank you. It sounds less bleak when you put it that way. Got the feeling something innate was wrong with the lead, that ending up lonely and reflective means you should kill yourself. Not that suicide isn't a viable solution, just that it doesn't mean you have no reason to do so.

[@VallisYT]

When I first watched the film, I didn't understand what exactly was going on, yet I was intrigued by the surreal atmosphere and the underlying existential dread. Since I've learned more about the film (in no small part through videos like this), my respect and fascination for both Kaufman and this movie have increased even further. Thank you for this excellently written and edited analysis!

[@SpicyTexan64]

Since I've learned more about the film. Translation: Since I've been told what to think about it.

[@brijmsn]

This is when old directors have too much time, ego and resources

[@Eyeupthebison]

​@@SpicyTexan64 Your so right! Never try to gain understanding things!

[@Needler13]

@@Nonesovile96 I thought it was about dementia of an old man slowly losing his memories and losing grasp of reality

[@SpikimaMovies]

What a trip. So many details I couldn't discuss, but let me toss that to you. What's YOUR favourite detail of this movie? EDIT: OH and one more. "Synecdoche New York VS ITOET"? PS: I’m back! In case people wonder, the main music is something I made for this video and will be uploaded on my pages soon. See you again soon everyone :) Thanks for your patience and continued support. All important links in the description.

[@civy420]

Glad to see you back from vacations, how are you? had watched this film a few years before, I love the dreamy kinds of feel, also the driving scene almost let me think it will go forever!

[@richnewman]

Definitely like this film more than S. New York. It shows off Kaufman's peculiar style with scripts, but gives him a lot of room to just let the cinematographer do his thing. Beautiful movie.

[@ewaberchulska]

My favourite is defiwntly when the guy is steering and his hands are old on the steering wheel but hes normal ,or at the start the poster of the pig as he drives by and it says quietly "join me" like at the end !

[@Nubrigtube]

My favourite details are every time something weird happens but everyone acts normally, exactly like it happens in dreams and nightmares. ITOET for me because I really didn't understand and appreciate Synecdoche when I saw it, definitely need a second watch.

[@larissasaraiva.8375]

Bruh, you have no idea how much I was looking forward to this video. And as always you didn't disappoint 💫

[@SpikimaMovies]

Happy to hear you liked it! :) Had a lot of fun with it.

[@blaisetelfer8499]

Here's what I think is the best way to summarize the literal events of the film: *SPOILERS* The woman was a figment of Jake's imagination, an amalgamation of women he had wanted to ask out over the years but never had the courage to due to his crippling social anxiety. Jake is the 70-year-old janitor, and Jesse Plemmons is what he looked like when he was younger (as evidenced by the family photos). The film takes place on the last day of Jake's life, in which he spends it daydreaming about what could have been. What we see is his fantasy of simply having a girlfriend to bring home to Mom and Dad, but because his poor self esteem permeates even his fantasies, said girlfriend is unhappy in the relationship and constantly judging traits and behaviors that Jake is self-conscious about. His parents have been dead for decades, and he never left home. Remember the scene where he's feeding his mom and she says "I keep telling him, over an over, it's time for him to leave"? She's not referring to the girlfriend's repeated pleas to leave the farmhouse; she's referring to all the time Jake's parents tried to get him to move out and live on his own, which he never could.

[@brijmsn]

What the hell was that ending auditorium scene about?

[@shewow8612]

@Brian Mason A fantasy of him as a successful man in career, life and love, which he was thinking of as he killed himself.

[@blaisetelfer8499]

@@brijmsn two things. 1) it was based on the Nobel acceptance speech at the end of A Beautiful Mind; he was recreating that scene in his head to give himself a Hollywoodized happy ending. 2) he sings "Lonely Room" from the musical Oklahoma, about a loner character who wishes he could marry the main love interest.

[@NamorleCanarky]

i think you're right

[@heelmoxley365]

On a level I think it’s saying a man’s imagination can be anything he wants it to be. The woman was real, not to us but to Jake.

[@jaguarenduda]

When I first watched it, I thought she had been kidnapped by him, and was creating an imagined reality in her mind while in captivity in his basement. That interpretation comes from the fact that I was very into youtube videos about real life crime stories at the time, mostly murders and kidnappings. I also had The Collector in mind, a book which I had read not many years ago. In that first viewing I loved the movie, but the ending didn’t quite fit with my theory, which I was so sure to be correct. Confused and intrigued I downloaded the book and read it all in one sitting that same night. Then I understood. It’s funny because my reading experience was largely thwarted by my previously made expectations, by the desire to see my theory confirmed, and it took me longer to figure out what was going on than it would’ve normally taken. What I find interesting though is that I can’t help thinking that, in a way, my first interpretation is somewhat correct. She is his victim, abducted from real life, constructed by him from the idea of a real person, and trapped in his mind. I find it amusing that this wild theory I came up with due to specific circumstances in my life led me to a completely singular viewing (and reading) experience, increased the shock of the revelation and still brought me a fascinating perspective on the story. I love this movie.

[@kennywood6684]

Nothing to say except i love this interpretation!

[@balkisszahraoui]

I recently finished reading "The Collector", I loved the first part, the ending didn't fulfill my satisfaction vessel, and although, I did watch a lot of kidnapping documentaries and crimes, my brain did get absolutely nothing, my brain stopped concluding hense speculating explanations off of this movie.. it blew my mind, well it's my first time with Kauffman.

[@quentinglover6589]

I just watched this movie yesterday and actually had the exact same theory about kidnapping throughout the movie. I thought maybe she was being drugged or something. Btw I REALLY like what you wrote in regard to the girlfriend being a captive in his mind since she may have been a real person, kinda eerie. Although now that I think about it, the only things keeping me from believing she was someone he really met are just how bad his anxiety seems to be and the fact that the story for how the two of them met isn’t consistent.

[@moxiesaturday]

I love horror movies but they rarely make me genuinely unsettled and uncomfortable like this movie did, beware to anyone watching this that has experienced soul crushing bouts of depression. Extremely good movie, I felt tense and frightened the whole time. Like midsommar but way less fun and pretty

[@1three7]

It's hard for me to put into words how this movie haunts me. There's too many connections to my real life. It's all coincidence but when combined with it's surreal construction I can't help but feel like it's made for me. Obviously it's not. I'm not delusional. But this movie put me into a serious depressed state for days after watching it the first time. That said I highly recommend it. It's a seriously amazing and powerful piece of surreal art. I also think it says a lot about how to live a meaningful life in a seemingly meaningless world.

[@pablogilberto9715]

I'll never forget the intense feeling I got when she broke the fourth wall, I was already entranced just by the poetry and her looking directly just made me so vulnerable sending chills to my spine. I wish I could go back to that day, randomly scrolling through Netflix seeing the interesting title, and just watching it blindly.

[@loganwelty7094]

Loved the book, wasn’t so sure of the movie upon first watch. It took about a year for the stories to fully marinate with me though, they’re both narratives containing so many layers to unfold. Great video essay mate.

[@MattSRippeR]

One of the best movies I've seen in my entire life. The fear of the end, the fear of ending things, the fear of a lost or wasted life, the fear of loneliness, the fear of heartbreak, the fear of loss, the fear of disappointment, the fear to be alone, the fear of dying alone, the fear of coming home and that this is something terrible, as the poem "Bonedog" says so well. That's the key to the movie. In that poem. "Bonedog". Beautiful poem, but also extremely nihilistic and pessimistic, and fatalistic. But beautiful anyway. A film that invites you to think on various things, from a quite existentialist and profound point of view, at times also philosophical, and sometimes quite nihilistic, or sad or tragic. One of those movies that stays with you and becomes part of you. In my opinion, one of the best movies I've seen, among some others. I take it to eternity. And yes, as you said at the end of the video, along with that scene from the movie that is beautiful, this movie is going to leave you thinking about many things, but also about the endings of things. And everything that has a beginning has an end. We must never forget the mortality of things. A movie that is much more than just a movie. Something unique, beautiful, sensitive, poetic, and existentialist. Something necessary and fundamental I would say. Thanks for the analysis.

[@vsauce4678]

Charlie Kaufman is the modern philosopher we need that not only speaks to reality but also pushes it to the masses in a way that makes them have to work to realize it. He is the easily one of the best film writers and directors around. This film is going to become a Donnie Darko or American Psycho esk film that transcends its era.

[@0hcyris]

Let me tell you the best thing I liked about the movie: The cinematography looks like my nightmares, and the dialogues are like my thought processes which make the absurd movie almost subjectively realistic to me. Sadly I watched it when I wasn't feeling like watching complex movies so my first impression was a bore. Haha but it reminds me of silent hill shattered memories.

[@zeyface6366]

That was one of my favorite things about the movie. The dialogue seemed at first to just be weird and artsy just to be weird and artsy After the ending the dialogue made perfect sense. It's exactly like thoughts and debating people in your own head. It really hit the nail on the head so impressively

[@mohamadafifazizizaidi5625]

Another suggestion: David Lynch's *Lost Highway* & *Mulholland Drive*

[@idimajo]

Kaufman has an impressive list of movies Being John Malkovich Adaptation Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Synecdoche, New York Anomalisa I'm Thinking of Ending Things Is he one of the great writers? I'd say so

[@Mooseu00]

Don’t forget kungfu panda 2

[@dieforwenqingliveformengzo3241]

@@Mooseu00oh he wrote this. No wonder Shen is the deepest and most complex villain of that franchise

[@jasminm5775]

I too have a basement of my collected dreams that I visit it from time to time, pretty amazing how mostly everything is still so vivid..

[@seni_oo]

I watched this film in the lead up to my first breakup and it broke me. I couldn't finish it because of the emotion it brought over me. I would like to try and finish it soon but God it was so perfect.

[@williamw3501]

I believe she's his Anima. The book/movie seemed to be a great depiction of carl jung's psychological theories.

[@arianathough2070]

The 2006 film Stay did something similar to this one in that the explicit story you're given is not really the "true" story. They both essentially tell a story from the mind of the protagonist, in really creative ways in terms of editing and shot composition, and I think that's really brilliant and inventive. It's a shame Stay has been so overlooked and underrated for the last decade or so because of that, while I'm Thinking of Ending Things has gotten so much praise. I suppose it came out in the wrong era.

[@samantha4564]

this was beautiful, it actually gave me chills lol

[@rainepanda]

I like how throughout your video you switched through the various names of "Lucy" lol a clever touch

[@ewaberchulska]

Oh my god you have no idea how fucking happy this makes me ,my favourite youtuber making a video about my favourite movie !!! This cant be real ahhh

[@rozfagan9399]

This movie hits like a Dostoevsky novel, it just takes a different approach; Dostoevsky writes freaks of nature whom you think you cant relate to, but then something in there claws at some part of you that relates to it, something that was buried deep, and once you find it you project fully onto the character and feel like a monster. I'm Thinking of Ending Things is broad and vague, but there's a tone in the overall project like the pages and pages of Dostoevsky's monologues that you fall in, finding similarities between you and the character. Only with IToET it starts with our projection of ourselves that we place to fill Kaufman's purposeful void, which then slowly relates more and more to ourselves with the application of the character's depression and anxiety, yet both end with you accepting yourself in the same predicament as the character. Its about finding the saddest part relatable about you, then spinning off of it with you still attached, to convince you you're just like the character.

[@n.p.7671]

Wow! This is on another level of interpretative thinking. I felt sick after watching it. An outstanding visual representation of the compartments of the mind and the way the internal and external process “life” that constant fucking snow storm was a perfection representation of his life through that time. That snow… it’s everyone’s life.

[@TylerJMacDonald]

That's the most interesting explanation for a J and L cut I've ever heard...great video

[@worrywirt]

this is probably a coincidence but J & L - Jake and Lucy?

[@TylerJMacDonald]

@@worrywirt definitely a coincidence, but good catch! J and L cuts are movie editing terms. At least they were the last time I was in to editing lol

[@Nkanyiso_K]

I really wanted a more explicitly dark tone, a horrific visual manifestation of the psychological horror & dread built up in the first two acts

[@mattgilbert7347]

The framing of certain shots was downright painterly. I did not expect that from Kaufman. Good work on the music. Chords and space. Sounds a little like some of Greenwood's compositions. There's definitely a Radiohead chord in there :)

[@mii481]

The book and the movie compliment each other. The book was filled with dread and the movie filled with sadness. I recommend reading it and then watching the movie.

[@heelmoxley365]

I revisited this movie for the first time in a while tonight and the flood of emotions are coming back. It’s so heavy, arguably it’s own brand of sadistic horror. Im saying that but at the same time taken a back with how beautiful it is.

[@EdWard-ie5wn]

This movie had a bigger impact on me than anything I've seen before or after. It was like a spiritual experience almost and made me reflect on so many things. It's a masterpiece

[@___-ly5gk]

midway through the movie, I started crying. I don't know how it started. But I know I did.

[@zenitsumadeinasian6937]

throughout my whole life, i had maladaptive daydreaming. I just knew thanks to this movie. I assume fantasize those imaginary thoughts in your mind really makes u feel better but its a condition and anxiety. I know im a lonely person i dont have friend most of my friend just come and go i knew them at some point during studies but when we graduate we not really keep in touch probably im introvert i dont know how to entertain them .but i couldnt accept myself that i had this condition for so long. I embrace it until now bcoz it helps me during my loneliness makes me feel calm. After i watch this movie and understand it, i feel really sad and depressing and i hope if i get job soon things will be different.

[@jungiantrip]

"Home is where I no longer exist" I had to slow the video to .25 and review it multiple times to find it. Haunting and well-placed. 11:35

[@emma_osborne]

been waiting for this gold ! thanks for always putting so much work into these analysis vids :) love you and your work 💖

[@emma_osborne]

also your music is sickkk 👏🏻

[@SpikimaMovies]

Thank you! Glad you like the musiqueeeee!

[@estrellacasias]

The way this movie made me feel like I should give up, that my life is nearly over, and how I will never accomplish my dreams or feel satisfied at 22

[@No-hd1km]

i just found your channel- and its everything i love. your presentation is beyond astonishing and shows a lot of care put into your videos. it's amazing, keep up the good work :)

[@minumeyli]

i had a hard time watching this film because it made me so uncomfortable that i was constantly looking away. i’ll revisit it eventually, but as of right now I have no desire to go through the viewing experience again 😭

[@misty1985]

love your work spikima, love your narration and voice, love your films selections, when im bored, i check your videos and watch the films you cover only to see then your analysis, i discovered a lot of all time favs films thanks to you, love kauffman works btw. ty have a nice day and wish you the best

[@SpikimaMovies]

Very happy to hear that. Thank you :)

[@004chestnut8]

So you're telling me that her monologues were manifestations of his insecurities?

[@brk1988]

Thank you for making this

[@billierobinson6695]

I love the way this guy words things. pretty much the only channel im watching currently

[@SPEEDRAYCERE]

I love your videos because they put me onto new movies to watch.

[@bplusstudios9031]

Was watching this film as you uploaded this...

[@NonExistingName]

Always thought the film was a snapshot of jake's mind breaking apart under the weight of dementia. In a flurry of confusion and obcession, be clings to his memories... Until he forgets who he's supposed to be in his fantasy, and attaches his own sense of self to a woman he once loved, but can no longer even recall her name. Lucy, or Luísa, or Lúcia, is a vessel for what remains of Jake, one he watches from afar, one he may only interact with. You put it best, she's not of Jake, Jake is of her. Which is why the scene where they bid goodbye to each other was so heartbreaking. It is him leaving himself. All that follows are slivers of awareness, as jake, who no longer knows he is jake or ever was jake, watches a patchwork of memories and dreams that bring him comfort... And they watch him back. Looking artificially aged, silent if not for the clapping. They applaud the last show of his mind, and all of them are part of it, yet none is him anymore. A line stuck with me. Jake's father telling Lucy about his own dementia, that it's not so bad, once you get to the pint you forget you're forgetting. I hope I can find that comfort in the end.

[@vibovitold]

he's not demented, just lonely and depressed. it's not his memories, it's his imagination. when he (his real self, the old one) confronts her towards the end of the movie, she tells him the truth - she can't remember him ("how could she?"), she thought he was a creeper, he never spoke to her; this was his fantasy of "what could have happened". he faces this reality, unable to comfort himself with his imaginary alternative scenario any longer.

[@pastadash4684]

I’m not always one to enjoy more artsy films like this, but Kaufman is the one exception, he just makes his films so engrossing and I can never look away or stop thinking about them after.

[@ZK_SHREDR]

This movie is in my top 3 movies ever,it was so good that I will actually read the book,absolutely an amazing film.i hope there's more films like this in the future.especially with these actors

[@dontcryimjustafreak3632]

I was 15 when I watched this movie, maybe too young, it left me feeling uneasy for days. Maybe I will watch it again when I'm older

[@nngnehm]

I found the movie to on the nose with its "hints" that something is wrong. Instead of giving you subtle clues it just bombarded you with scenes that are uncomfortable in the beginning and are then are pushed to extremes. Whenever you think "ah alright this feels eerie" the movie doesnt allow the moment to linger, but shoves another creepy thing at you. In my opinion the movie couldve been great if they had left more space for the unease to unfold. Anyone else felt this way or did you find the pace of the movie good as it was?

[@arnavkaushik3373]

YOU FINALLY DID MY FAVOURITE MOVIE

[@errorone937]

I ALREADY WANT TO END IT. NOW YOU MAKE ME WANT TO END IT MORE. SUCH A GOOD MOVIE BUT SO DEPRESSING 😭

[@ashleed5003]

This movie was so hard to watch almost like a bad trip, but I feel like the director was trying to get that sense of dread and I can appreciate how it made me feel although i wont ever watch it again lol

[@christopher0261]

I understand you released this quite a while ago but this is the best video essay ive ever watched

[@mikebasil4832]

Thank you for emphasizing so much of what this film has to say.

[@debshreebasu8137]

I am so glad tht u have analysed this movie. I have seen this few months back and loved it so much... except for the ending.

[@MmmKayHuuNay]

This is my favorite Kaufman film. I loved it, I mean, I *REALLY* connected to it!

[@chase-e-c2881]

Awesome video man, really made me think about the movie in a deeper sense, also what was the song that you used for the outro/credits of the video? really vibed there

[@fae444mabel]

this movie is really insane. this video explains it so well.

[@connororeilly3387]

Nice analysis 😀 one of my favorite movies ever

[@mannvishnoi2388]

Damn he does a really good job

[@zeroxcrusher]

It was like listening to someone talking about their dream. Person who talks about it doesn't realize that it wont have the same effect on the person they are talking to. There could be countless theories about meaning of this movie. I feel like I would ve liked it if I knew wtf was going on. It was just one random thing into another random thing. Without payoff in the end. Cinematography was good but overall it was just an unenjoyable experience.

[@nath7691]

The thing is my interpetion on Kaufman's movies is that in the end it's his therapy and are therefore all linked together. So when i saw this movie i noticed two things, this is about Kaufman's fear of his legacy being forgotten, that in the end he will be old and irrelavent, remembered by a few for the work he did. The second thing is that this is his answer to the movie "adaptation", that ended in a comprehensive book being turned in to uncomprehensive movie as this is the exact opposite, a uncomprehensive book being a exact adaptation.

[@neiderwong]

nice review, it is great that u use the synecdoche soundtrack

[@kittykatforever998]

i see a lot of people saying they have been triggered by this movie into depressive episodes. when you have maladaptive daydreaming, everything that makes you realize the reality of your condition and breaks that happy bubble of delusion can be devastating like little else. it's annihilating depression. but seeing so many people talking about having maladaptive daydreaming...it makes me think we are not as alone as we may feel. so many of us share this coping mechanism, and if you manage to take it to healthy levels, it's not even so 'mal'adaptive, it just becomes, well, adaptive. reality sucks for everyone and making up fantasies to escape it is so much more common than we realize. everybody does it to some degree or another. so don't feel alone. you are not. remember you are never as alone as you feel

[@christopherjohnson8405]

Sometimes in the moments between a nightmare and waking. Passing from a drug or virus fuelled fever. The moment your heart jolts hard and you realise that you were gone for at least a moment, the confusion that follows. The terror I now have at fully loosing consciousness, my sense of time and place. You know that time passes when you sleep but no time passes down there. The complete loss of the self. I was nowhere and I did not exist. There was nothing to form thought. Devoid of all that is familiar. There is only the absolute. This film for me was Incredibly uncomfortable to watch. Anyone with existentialism or a fear of death should miss this film. A must watch for everyone else.

[@Yeshaboo]

one of my fav movies ever, great video!

[@CatJabZ]

Great analysis! I've been meaning to watch thia movie again and have also read numerous theories on it. This may be my favourite.

[@maeiscompletelyfine]

ugh you're amazing

[@michelkudluk6193]

Oh when the music from Synechdoche faded in, chills.

[@nikczemna_symulakra]

Thank you for this one❤ This movie, as much as Synecdoche, means a lot to me -as to someone who hides in own head just as miserably-

[@heelmoxley365]

💔

[@anirudhmenon4234]

All these video essays have begun to sound so alike that this one feels almost like a self-parody.

[@ja4039]

This movie left me not in a heightened state of compassion or empathy for the protagonist, even though of course his story and imagination are tragically sad, but actually and surprisingly angry that the film leaves us with no perspective whatsoever other than that of a person who loathes themselves so much and is so tired of loathing themselves they commit suicide. So many of us already have a warped perception ourselves. Depression is a widespread social contagion. So, of what moral use is this film? I don’t think films should avoid the darkest reaches of the human experience but this film’s ultimate destination felt so cheap and cruel. The cartoon and the pig were especially horrible - there was no dignity even in his suicide. What the pig said was awful. The older I get the less patience I have for films that do nothing to improve my perception of the world, but just reflect back to us the worst of our collective misery. Maybe someone benefits from staring into this hell, but I struggle to understand why and how.

[@benji9994]

I started bursting in tears when he said bye at the end 😩

[@heelmoxley365]

I just wanna give Jake a hug

[@Joesmho23]

Watching this movie affected my life. It brought me and my gf at the time so down that we straight up couldn’t avoid talking about our relationship and life. I could write an entire book on how this movie just perfectly kick started one of the worst times of my life lmao

[@sarahrich7929]

i remember the first time i watched this movie. at the time, i hadn’t read the book and never heard of it. wish i could feel that for the first time again 😂😂

[@ComfortableTool86]

I chose to analyze this movie for a film class so I watched it over and over and I'll probably never watch it again lol. It's so brilliant but it's the most profoundly lonely movie I've ever seen.

[@jackanghoff8320]

This is the rare movie that I didn’t enjoy at all, but still liked somehow. It is kind of analogous to ‘Everywhere at the end of time’. It is impressive since they nailed exactly what they were going for, but what they were going for was pure despair fuel.

[@guidohoek5437]

hated it, it was about pretentiousness but got so pretentious doing it. Loved the “it was all a PACK OF LIES!”-part, that was rreally great.

[@guidohoek5437]

Loved your video about it btw! Great stuff

[@bruce1947]

goddamn i love kaufman. his works just really resonates with me in every way.

[@fight8the8feeling8]

Todd from Breaking Bad. Sorry I had to say it, love your work man! Really inspiring for someone getting into filming, hopefully I’ll see my movie on your channel if I ever get there, big world with little time.

[@BF1_enthusiast]

Hello! I just found your channel and subbed after watching a vid or 2. I wanted to ask you, can you make a video about your favorite horror movies ever? (Or the movies that scared you the most) In case you didn't do that yet... Thank you and awesome channel that feels genuine and honest, unlike most other channels! :D

[@pdzombie1906]

Great video as usual! I felt reading the novel helps and complements the whole experience, and lets you know the view of Kaufman on today's Hollywood movies... Thanx!!!

[@mmaatttttttt]

Interesting aspect ratio choice

[@growing.flowers]

Im officially binging ur videos when im sad

[@devinndoering8637]

The dude coulda wrote a poem and saved me 2 hours. I have work tomorrow and I stayed up to watch this. :(

[@jespermaintz8993]

My favourite movie of 2020 - revisited it 6 times since, and I've basically come to the same conclusions as you. Only odd thing is, when you scroll over the film on the Netflix homepage, the 'teasers' that pops up shows you scenes. that are NOT in the film itself. Another Kaufman-trick? We'll never know.

[@heelmoxley365]

There’s so many different ways to look at it. I think if I could watch one movie for the rest of my life it would be this one.

[@heelmoxley365]

The Pig metaphor is something I still think about to this day.

[@raidersdoom]

This movie was just tension building with no release. For me it was confusing for confusing sake. It was irritating for me and just made me anxious. My partner was excited to watch this because she just read the book, but was pretty disappointed.

[@jasminem812]

i watched this movie while i was in the midst of my depression at it's worst and it fucked me all the way up lmao

[@Ushygushy103]

I love this movie I think it’s genius. It’s so interesting to watch it all unravel and learn about the aging process

[@Alex_Knight.]

I started watching this movie thinking it was just going to be a movie focused on the parents having beef with the gf or her figuring out how to break up with him, but then as it went on I got so confused and disturbed and by the end I didn't know what to do with my existence

[@beatrice4073]

the intro, more specifically the conversation they had in the car, was so depressing I stopped watching this film. It felt so draining😭

[@GLamoRousCooKie]

See I want to watch this movie, as existential psychological horror is right up my alley, but at the same time... As a clinically depressed, lonely maladaptive daydreamer I think I might be better off skipping it. Still not sure. This is the only movie I can't really bring myself to watch.

[@RB-.-]

It will trigger you.